Street-lighting system



Octwl, 1927.

- W. VAN ALEN STREET LIGHTING SYSTEM Filed June 14, 1923 F1 INVENTOR lwdulw, Vw, und

a ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 18, 1927.

UNIT-EDl STATES WILLIAM VAN VALEN, OIF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

STREET-LIGHTING SYSTEM.

Application fiieasriune 14, 1923. seriai No. 645,237.

This invention consists of anew and useul street lighting system employing a novel form of street lighting unit, which departs from the ordinary high post system in that the light source and reflectoi` are placed below the normal eye level of the usual pedestrian or driver. rlhe object .of the invention is thus to eliminate all glare due to the light source being shaded practically to all angles in the normal line or' vision. @ther objects with resultant advantages are hereinafter set forth.

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a novel street lighting unit used in my system bisected to show a vertical cross section thereof.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section ot the re flector part ofl such unit showing thepath of the light rays,

Fig. 3 is a diagram of a street andV roadway with typical placing` of units and resultant intersecting light fields,

A typical post and equipment is shown in Fig. 17 in which a pedestal 1 approximately 4; feet 6 inches high supports a reflector 2, Which in turn supports a secondary reflector 3. Upon the top of the post is mounted a basket 4 adapted to receive flowers or other ornamental forms. The lamp 5 is mounted in the reflector. Typical light -rays to eX plain the desiredtype of' distribution have been traced and operate as follows: The lamp 5 is mounted in a position relative to the reflector 2, so that the light cut off in the direction of ray 6 occurs at the pavement and building line 7 of Fig. 3. The cut-off in the direction of ray 8 is such that the light cut-oft1 occurs at the pavement and building line intersection on the side ofthe street opposite to the post. Rays 11 and 12 show the path of typical reflected rays from the lamp and reflector intermediate to limiting rays 6 and 8. Rays in a plane at right angles to ray 8 will have the same light cut` olf as ray 8. A translucent glass ring v27 completely covers the opening of reflector 3 to prevent dirt and moisture from reaching the interior parts of the post.

Fig. 2 is a more or less diagrammaticV cross-section showing the approximate outline of the reflector 2 and its relative posi* tion to the lamp filament 28 of the lamp 5. The sides 24 of the reflector' 2 are arranged so as to deliver a large vertical component of light from the lamp 5 and the cut-oil near the pavement is approximately l7()o while the cut-.oli toward the far pavement is ap-v proximately 80o.. I

Referring to Fig. iniwhich ai typical if street plan is presented, the sidewalks kare respectively represented by the numbersi and 9 andthe units as shown in Fig. las numbers 13 to .2O inclusive,y placed instaggered relation on opposite sides of the street. j f

The light, cut-oil1 vfrom' the reflector is karranged so'k that the street lighting unit'ilt,

wardly illuminating Vthe upper post 25 and the base of ythe flower receptacle et. In place of such flower receptacle a statue or otherornamental form can be used.

.It is contemplated in a lighting system using the units above described that the post shall be approximately 4 feet 6 inches in height, the ornamental forms reaching to any desired height suitable in the system of decoration. f

An extremely simple system'of wiring 26 has been shown and the units employed are designedso that they can practically be cast in one piece.

The advantages of a street lighting system employing the units shown herein are that glare is practically eliminated dueto the fact that the `light is below the normal plane of' vision and by means of the reflector the eye of the driver or pedestrian is shaded at all angles in the normal plane of vision. -There will be an economical dise tribut-ion of energy due to the fact that the light sources are placed near to the ground and because all of the reflected light is con-k fined to the street and pavement ksurface with the exception of the small amount utilized to illuminate the ornamental post top. In the present system light is not wasted on building fronts and the. absence of direct light showing into the windows of adjoining houses doesI away with this hitherto annoying feature. There will still be sullicient light from surface reflection from the sidewalk to illuminate the buildings 'for artistic effect.

It should be understood that. the essential feature of the invention is the low post and reflector of proper design as the system can be carried out without further elements. The supplementary features such as the secondary reflector, the ornamental forms and supporting post are' additional'v details which may be employed to secure artistic eects to which'the system is readily'adapted.

In the claims the expression normal plane of vision has been used. This relates to the normal plane of the ordinary pedestrian, the eyes being at a level somewhat under live feet. For this reason, as previe ously set forth, the pedestals are approxiniately four feet', sii;` inches, 4 "'I clainfi:

1- A Street lighting unit Comprising a holloiV Pest comprising a base, @intermediate dual reflector, and an upper ornamental extension, a light source enclosed by the reflector, the lower reflector being flared and situate below the normal plane of vision, and the upper reflector being adapted to rellect light rays tothe ornamental forms on the upper extension.

2. A street lighting unit comprising a hollow post comprising a base, an intermediate dual reflector, and an upper ornamental extension, a light source below the nornial plane of vision enclosed by the reflector,

the lower reflector being flared and situate below the normal plane of vision, andthe upper reflector being adapted to reflect light rays to the ornamental forms on the upper extension.

`Signed at New Yorl; city in the county of New lYork and State of New York this 9th of June, 1923.

WILLIAM VAN ALEN. 

